LFC defender branded ‘overweight’ by Jamie Carragher after sloppy performances

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Virgil van Dijk’s start to life at Liverpool was dream-like.

The Dutchman helped us win an FA Cup 3rd Round tie with a headed winner in front of the Kop against Everton – not long after his £75m move from Southampton was confirmed.

But he was also part of our two January defeats, at the hands of Swansea and West Brom, failing to shine in either and dropped for the following victory over Huddersfield – where in fairness – Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip looked good.

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Why Van Dijk was snapped in a Man. City shirt…

Jamie Carragher, a legendary former Liverpool centre-back himself of course, has no doubts the 26-year-old will come good, but reckons he actually needs to trim down a little.

“I think it will prove to be a great signing,” Carragher told Sky Sports’ The Debate, cited in the Echo. “But he hasn’t hit the ground running.

“I think he needs to get fit and lose a bit of weight. He actually looks too big. Maybe that’s to do with not having a pre-season, not playing too many games for Southampton.”

Van Dijk’s bulk is pure muscle, not fat, but perhaps Carra is right. It’s not like he’ll lose too much strength by gaining a little mobility, as his physicality is already exceptional.

Like Carra though, we’re 100% convinced he’ll come good. He’s shown too many glimpses of his true potential, even while not fully match fit, for this not to be the case.

Perhaps against Spurs on Sunday, when he’s up against the league’s best forward in Harry Kane, he’ll have a chance to show as much.

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